Love Does - Take 2

Inspired, motivated, challenged, stirred, moved, encouraged....just a few of the feelings I have after reading Love Does.  Bob Goff lives his life out in love and I want that.  I want to freely give to all, loving on each and every person that comes in my path - truly being the light of Christ through passing on His love. 

Where to start?  Each chapter is a mini lesson in itself and I could address each one and how it's taken hold on my heart.  I laughed till it hurt and then laughed some more with tears as he hilariously unfolds his story about his waitoring experience - priceless.  Or how he went along with wild plans for strangers marriage proposal - exciting.  Or how he passionately courted his wife - endearing.  Or how relentless and dedicated he was to change his rejection from law school - determined.  Or any of the other great adventures, capers, or whimiscal stories he portrays - inspiring, challenging, creative, sneaky.  But really what hit home were all of the truths he shared and connected to each of these stories:

• I used to want to fix people, but now I just want to be with them.
• I used to think I had to act a certain way to follow God, but now I know God doesn't want us to be typical.
• I used to think being loved was the greatest thing to think about, but now I know love is never satisfied just thinking about it.
• I used to be afraid of failing at something that really mattered to me, but now I'm more afraid of succeeding at things that don't matter.
• I used to think I could shape the circumstances around me, but now I know Jesus uses circumstances to shape me.
• I used to think God guided us by opening and closing doors, but now I know sometimes God wasnt us to kick some doors down.
• I used to think Jesus motivated us with altimatums, but now I know He pursues us in love.
• I used to think being a believer was enough, but now I know Jesus wants us to participate, no matter what condition we're in.
• I used to think you had to be special for God to use you, but now I know you simply need to say yes.
• I used to think I had to be somebody important to accomplish things, but now I know Jesus uses ordinary people more.
• I used to think I needed an invitation to get into most places, but now I know I'm already invited.
• I used to think the words spoken about us describe who we are, but now I know they shape who we are.
• I used to think I needed to sacrifice for God, but now I know faith is like a game of Bigger and Better.
• I used to think religion tasted horrible, but now I know I was just eating the fake stuff.
• I used to think words were all the same, but now I know there are some words I shouldn't use.
• I used to think I had missed the mark and God was mad about it, but now I know "missing the mark" is a stupid analogy.
• I used to think rules were made by someone else, but now I know we get to make some of our own.
• I used to think life could be shared with anyone, but now I know choosing the right people is pretty important.
• I used to think the best teachers wore tweed jackets and smoked pipes, but now I know they flip over and leak.
• I used to think knowing God was like going on a business trip with Him, but now I know He's inviting me on an adventure instead.
• I used to think God wouldn't talk to me, but now I know I'm just selective with what I choose to hear.
• I used to be afraid that if I was authentic I might take a hit, but now I know that being real means I will take a hit.
• I used to think following God required a lot of navigation, but now I know all I need is a line and a circle.
• I used to think I should talk about everything, but now I know it's better to keep some things a secret. 
• I used to think God was good some of the time, but now I know He's good all of the time.
• I used to think there were some prison you couldn't escape, but now I know there's no place I can go where God can't rescue us.
• I used to think I needed to record stories, but now I know I just need to engage him.
• I used to think I needed to pick sides, but now I know it's better to pick a fight.
• I used to think I could lear about Jesus by studing Him, but now I know Jesus doesn't want stalkers.
• I used to think clinched fists would help me fight better, but now I know they make me weaker.
• I used to think that taking a risk would reduce the number of friends I have, but now I know that love draws more people in.

Some of these hit home more than others, but his layout of this book inspired my thinking to love more and let go more, through these principles and stories.  Our God is a big God and can accomplish anything and everything, we just have to be ready - I am ready, I want to jump all in for our amazing creator - to love more, to give more, to sacrifice more, to help more, to move more!

Love Does

To be honest, I haven't been very good at this. The whole "doing" thing.  I spent many years of my life with BIG dreams but little endurance and/or drive to see them come to life.  I would promise people the world and barely deliver a blade of grass.  Maybe I'm exaggerating, but maybe not.  It's hard to pinpoint all of the possible reasons I would behave this way, but one is probably pride. Thinking that my ideas were so great that they would just have to happen the way i imagined them. But they wouldn't, not without hard work and help.  Help has never been an easy thing for me to ask for and people rejecting my ideas is probably one of the reasons i don't ask... again, that whole pride thing.
Love Does among a number of things God has been doing in my life over the past 5 years have certainly been teaching me humility. I'm definitely learning what IS within my reach to promise to people, don't get me wrong I would still LOVE to promise them the world, but i know the devastation that comes to both parties involved when i can't deliver.  I'm truly learning too, that turning my eyes and others eyes towards Jesus is the Only Way we will know about the best promises that we all have been given that go far beyond this world and it's imaginations.